Expensive decorating mistakes designers won’t make again | E-Neighborhood Advisor

 

Some lessons in life are learned the hard way. Often, making a mistake is the best way to figure out what not to do in the future. When the stakes are high and the outcome is costly, you tend to remember an experience and grow from it, with the hope (in theory) that you’ll never repeat it again. Well, this same sentiment applies to decorating your home. Seemingly trivial design decisions can turn into expensive issues fast—and often, these things could have been avoided with a little bit of planning, prep, or research. Curious about what rookie mistakes might cost you major moolah in the long run? In Apartment Therapy magazine, a handful of interior designers shared their insight on the pricey decorating mistakes they’ve made in the past. Hopefully, you can vicariously learn through them! Not Checking Out Big-Ticket Furniture Items in Person It might seem like a hassle or an extra step in the decorating process, but it’s always worth taking the time to visit a furniture showroom or a brick-and-mortar store (once they’re open) to see a piece in real life before buying it, if possible. Many companies often charge restock fees and won’t pay for return shipping either, so it’s always a good idea to know exactly what you are getting before it shows up on your doorstep. You could save yourself a substantial amount time and money in the long run this way, even if you have to shell out a little cash upfront for a sample or waste an hour window shopping. Forgetting to Test Paint Colors in Different Lighting Situations Whether it’s sunlight streaming into your windows or the color of your light bulbs, lighting can alter the color of your paint. For best results, you should test paint on all of the walls you plan on painting in a given room or rooms before committing to a color. Remember to look at swatches at different times of day, too, so you can see how the sun and artificial lighting will impact the look of the shade. Not Measuring Furniture Before Buying It Nothing is worse than falling in love with a furnishing only to discover that it’s the wrong size for your home. Take out that measuring tape and blue painter’s tape and map out the exact dimensions of your desired new purchase to help you understand how it will work in your space. Better yet, measure twice just to be sure you have the right dimensions. Consider recording those numbers in a note on your phone to reference later. If you don’t have a specific piece in mind, measure the spot in your room that you’d ideally want to fill. That way, if you’re shopping for a piece at an outdoor tag sale or later at a store, you won’t have to guess at what a proper sized piece would be. Leaving Your Design Plan up in the Air Sure, you may be head-over-heels in love with an expensive sofa, but blowing your entire decorating budget on a single piece of furniture isn’t a very smart idea—particularly if you haven’t taken the time to make a design plan before your start shopping. Your design plan doesn’t have to include a fancy drawing or mood board. It can be as simple as a Pinterest board, a list of items you need, and a price point that you need to stay under for the entire project that’s itemized out for particular furnishings, give or take a bit. Buying White or Pale Upholstered Furniture If you’re thinking about ordering a sofa or armchair upholstered in very light-colored fabric, you might want to reconsider. Save yourself the headache and always go with something with a little color or pattern. Your Flooring Consultant, Matt Capell Email: sales@capellinteriors.com Phone (208) 288-0151 Fax (208) 917-6160 P.S. Here's a joke for you! Deep thought of the day: When you clean out a vacuum, you become a vacuum cleaner.